Liquid additive dispensers for washing machines



Dec. 18, 1962 c. J. KNERR ETAL 3,068,680

LIQUID ADDITIVE DISPENSERS FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Oct. 12, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l fnvenibrts: Car-Z Jffnerr and ZUzLZZisEfiarZow v Dec. 18, 1962 C. J. KNE RR ETAL LIQUID ADDITIVE DISPENSERS FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed 001;. 12, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fnz/erzfortfi'" Carl J fi m r? and Fg/ ZJZZZE E Harlow United States 3,058,68il LIQUID ADDITIVE DlSPENSERS FQR WASHENG MAClm ES Carl J. Knerr and Willis E. Harlow, Herrin, ilii., assignors to Borg-Warner Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Filed 0st. 12, 1959, Ser. No. 845,880 18 Claims. (Ci. 68-207) This invention relates to liquid additive dispensers for washing machines of the oscillating agitator type.

in the use of liquid additives in clothes washing machines, the liquid additives should preferably be introduced into the wash water, either automatically or manually, in a manner to insure the mixture and dispersion of the liquid additives in the wash water prior to contact with the clothes. This is particularly true in the use of liquid bleach as any direct contact of the bleach with the clothes may cause undesirable changes of color in the clothes and also injury to the clothes fabric.

t is an object of the present invention to provide improved liquid additive dispensers for washing machines of the oscillating agitator type.

Another object of the invention is to provide liquid additive dispensers for washing machines of the oscillating agitator type and which operate to automatically dispense the liquid additives into the wash water by the action of the agitator during normal operation of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide liquid additive dispensers for washing machines of the type described and adapted by the oscillating motion of the agitator to dispense measured quantities of the liquid additive into the wash water.

Another object of the invention is to provide liquid additive dispensers for clothes washing machines of the agitator type, the dispensers being mounted on the agitator to oscillate therewith during operation of the washing machine and, upon each oscillation of the agitator, being effective to discharge a predetermined quantity of a liquid additive into the wash water for uniform dispersion in the wash water by the action of the agitator during clothes washing.

Broadly stated, the liquid additive dispensers of the invention each comprises a circular receptacle mounted on the agitator and containing a quantity of liquid additive disposed above the wash water in the washing machine, each receptacle containing means elfective upon each oscillation of the agitator to deliver a predetermined measurable quantity of the liquid additive to a reservoir of the dispenser and which has an opening for discharging the liquid additive downwardly into the wash water, the quantity of the liquid additive in the receptacle and conveyed to the reservoir, being controlled by the length and velocity of the stroke of the agitator.

The invention consists of the novel constructions, arrangements and devices to be hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out the above stated objects and such other objects as will appear from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a washing machine having a liquid additive dispenser incorporating a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FiG. 2 is a top view of the agitator and dispenser assembly, taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the dispenser shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and including a ramp and reservoir element of the dispenser;

Bfihdfihh Patented Dec. 18, 1962 add FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ramp and reservoir element shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modification of the liquid additive dispenser shown in FIGS. 1 to 4;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of another embodiment of liquid additive dispenser, including a tube of the dispenser;

PEG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the liquid additive dispenser shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is 'a perspective View of a modification of the liquid additive dispenser shown in FIGS. 6 and 7; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a portion of the liquid additive dispenser of FIG. 8, the tube element of the dispenser being partially broken away to show the valve structure therein.

Referring to PEG. 1, there is disclosed a washing machine of the type disclosed in Gerhardt et al. Patent No. 2,807,951 issued October 1, 1957, and comprising a casing it an imperforate tub 11, and a vertically disposed imperiorate wash basket 12. The basket 12 has disposed therein an agitator 13 which is oscillated by drive mechanism shown and described in the aforesaid Gerhardt et al. patent. Water is supplied to the basket 12 by the water supply means 14 and access is provided to the basket 12 by means of a hinged door 15.

The agitator 13 is of the type disclosed in Gerhardt et al. U.S. Patent No. 3,022,655, issued February 27, 1962, and is adapted, during oscillation of the agitator, to provide for recirculation of the fluid within the basket and a filter is disposed on or about the top of the agitator in the path of the'recirculated water to remove the lint and scum from the water. More particularly, the agitator 13 comprises an upstanding hollow post portion 15 for receiving the oscillated drive shaft 17, a radially spaced wall 1% defining a water passageway 19 between the wall 13 and post 16, and a downwardly and outwardly flaring base portion 21. Disposed about the outer surface and extending outwardly from the flaring base portion 21 are a plurality of vanes 22 for causing turbulence of the water within the basket 12 when the agitator is oscillated. A conical shaped, imperforate plate 24 is provided with a plurality of spiral or helical vanes 23 disposed about the inner surface and extending outwardly to substantially the periphery of the flaring base 21, the plate being suitably secured to the base of the agitator. The vanes, between the base portion 21 of the agitator and plate 24, define a plurality of helical shaped spaces 26 in the base of the agitator. A plurality of openings 27 in the agitator 13 provide fluid communication with the water passageway 19 and the spaces 26 and serve to cause water to be pumped upwardly, as indicated by the arrows, by the vanes in the agitator into an annular filter pan 29 disposed on the agitator 15. During oscillation of the agitator, the water in the basket 12 will be pumped upwardly through the passageways 26 and 19 into the filter to remove scum and lint from the continuously circulating wash water. For a more complete disclosure of t e filtering agitator herein shown and described, reference is made to the aforesaid Gerhardt et al. US. Patent 3,022,655.

A preferred embodiment of liquid additive dispenser is shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 and comprises an annular hollow receptacle or pan 3t} surrounding and supported on the annular filter pan 29, the receptacle comprising a pair of radially spaced side walls 31 and 32, and a bottom wall 33. The side wall 32 has its upper portion offset radially inwardly to provide a horizontally-extending wall portion 32a engaging the flanged rim 34- of the filter pan 29 for supporting the dispenser on the pan 29. It will be noted from inspection of FIG. 1 that the edge of the rim of the filter pan snugly engages the dispenser U wall 32 so that upon rotation of the agitators the receptacle 3% will be oscillated by the agitator. Also, the wall 32 has a vertically extending portion 32b in alignment with the wall 35 of the filter it) for a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter.

Referring now. to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the dispenser is provided with means for delivering a predetermined quantity of liquid additive, such as bleach, during each oscillation stroke of the agitator, to a reservoir of the dispenser to be subsequently discharged into the wash Water in the filter pan for dispersion of the additive into the water prior to entry of the mixture into the basket. More particularly, a ramp and reservoir element 36 is disposed Withinthe receptacle 3% and has a generally arcuate shape having ramp portions 37, 37, and a U- shaped reservoir portion 38 positioned adjacent to and within the upper end of the receptacle 31, the ramp portions 37, 37 being-gradually inclined to extend downwardly of the reservoir portion 38 toward and into engagement with the bottom wall 33 of the receptacle. It will be noted from an inspection of FIGS. 2 and 3 that the ramp portions 37, 37 are shaped to have their lateral edges-conform to. the curved contours of the walls 31 and 32 of the receptacle to engage these receptacle walls. It will be noted that the element 36 has the U-shaped portion 38 and the inclined adjoining parts of the ramp portions 37, 3,7, of substantially the same width as the distance between the wall 31 and the portion 32b of the wall 32 so as to snugly engage the same; and that the U-shaped portion 38 is seated upon the portion 32a of the wall 32 and cooperates with the wall 31 and the portion 32b of the wall 32 to provide a reservoir for the liquid additive, the wall 32 having an opening or bleed hole 41 for permitting drainage of the liquid additive. into the filter pan 29.

In the operation or" the dispenser, a liquid additive, such as bleach, is poured into the receptacle St to a level, indicated at L in FIG. 3 and, thereafter, during oscillation of the agitator, a portion of the liquid additive will be compelled to flow up the inclined surfaces or" the ramp portions 37, 37 into the reservoir portion 38 and through the bleed hole 41 into the filter pan 29. As the wash water is continuously circulated through the agitator and the filter pan 29, the liquid additive, draining through the bleedhole 41, will be mixed and diluted by the water prior to entry of the wash water into the basket.

A modification of the liquid additive dispenser is shown in. FIG. in which the ramp portions 37a, 37a of the element 36a are provided with a plurality of spaced stepped recesses 42 effective to retain a predetermined amount of the liquid: additive therein during movement of the agitator in a direction causing the additive to move upwardly andbe expelled into the centrally located reservoir portion so that, upon each oscillation of the agitator, a quantity of liquid, retained in each'of the recesses 42, will advance upwardly toward and into the next adjoining recess, except the liquid in uppermost recesses will be expelled into the reservoir to drain through the bleed hole 41:: in the receptacle and into the water flowing into the filter pan.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate another embodiment of the invention in which a tube 43 is disposed within the liquid additive dispenser receptacle 39b, the tube having its lower end at the bottom of the receptacle 3% and its upper end provided with an angularly offset top portion 43a extending through an opening 431) in the inner wall of the receptacle adjacent the top thereof so that, upon oscillation of the agitator, a quantity of the liquid additive'iu the receptacle will be compelled to flow upwardly through the tube 43 and discharged from the tube and into thewash water in the filter pan.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate another embodiment of the invention in which the receptacle 30a of the dispenser receives a tube 44 extending semi-circumferentially of the receptacle and having its lower end positioned at the 3 bottom of the receptacle 3th: and its upper end extending through an opening in one of the side walls of a U-shaped member 45 connected to and forming a'reservoir 46 with the side walls 31c and 320 of the receptacle. In operation of this dispenser, the liquid additive is ejected into the reservoir 46 from the upper end of the tube and is drained through the opening 41c into the water in the filter pan. Referring to FIG. 9, the upper end of thetube 44 is provided with a flapper check valve 47 pivoted at 48 in the tubes upper end and operative to permit the liquid additive to flow through the tube during forward motion of the oscillation stroke of the agitator and closing, due to suction action of the additive, during backward motion of the agitator on the return stroke. More particularly, the check valve functions to prevent the flow of the li uid in the tube into the reservoir during the backward motion on the return stroke of the agitator, and upon forward motion of the agitator, the check valve opens to permit the liquid retained within the tube to be ejected into the reservoir. The flow of the fluid from the tube provides a suction action in the tube causing" liquid in the receptacle to be sucked into the lower end of the tube so that the tube will be continuously filled until such time as all of the liquid additive in the receptacle is exhausted.

It will be apparent that in each of the embodimentsof the invention illustrated and described that flow. of the fluid upwardly'along the ramp portions of the element 36 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive, and in the tubes 43 and 44 as illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 9, inclusive, is due to the inertia of the liquid additive and the kinetic energy of the liquid additive developed in the oscillating back and forth movement of the agitator and attached dispenser to provide a constant flow of the liquid in pre determined measurable quantities from the liquid additive dispenser receptacle into the wash water within the filter pan. It will, of course, be readily apparent that the size. of the reservoir; the diameter of the bleed or drain hole in the receptacle; the inclination of the ramp portions of the elements 36 and 36a of FIGS. 1 to 5 and th tubes of FIGS. 6 to 9; the length of the agitator stroke;

and the velocity of the agitator stroke; are factor deter: minative of the amount, of the rinse additive flowing from the dispenser into the filter pan.

While the various liquid additive dispensers embodying the invention are shown and described with reference; to a particular lint-filtering agitator arrangement, it is to be understood that the liquid additive dispensers may, if desired, be connected directly to the oscillating agitator for the periodic flow of small quantities of the additives;

into the turbulentwash water, or may be connected tonv lint filter pan mounted on an agitator and adapted. to re.- ceive either fresh water or recirculated wash water, without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas more particularly defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid additive dispenser for use in a clothes, washing machine having a water-containing receptacle and an agitator in said receptacle and oscillating to and frQ about a vertical axis, said dispenser having means for mounting thesame upon said agitator above the water level in said receptacle for oscillating movement with said agitator, an annular container for a liquid, additive,

means for discharging the liquid additive from the dispenser, and means within said container and extending circumferentially thereof and inclined upwardly from the bottom of said container toward said discharging means, said last-named means being operative in response to oscillation of said agitator to periodically move a predetermined quantity of the liquid additive in said. containing means to said discharging means.

2. A liquid additive dispenser for use in a clotheswashing machine having a water-containing receptacle and an agitator insaid receptacle, and means, for driving the agitator to provide oscillating forward, and return strokes about a vertical axis, said dispenser having means for mounting the same upon said agitator above the Water level in said receptacle for oscillating movement with said agitator, an annular container for a liquid additive, means for discharging the liquid additive from the dispenser and located adjacent the top of said dispenser, and means within said container and extending circumferentially thereof and inclined upwardly from the bottom of said container to said discharging means and operative in response to one of said strokes of said agitator to move a portion of the liquid additive in said containing means to said discharging means.

3. A liquid additive dispenser for use in a clothes washing machine adapted to receive a Washing fluid and having an agitator oscillating to and fro about a vertical axis for agitating said fluid, said dispenser comprising a receptacle for receiving and containing a liquid additive, means for mounting the receptacle upon said agitator for oscillating movement therewith, means providing a compartment in said receptacle above the liquid additive therein, means for discharging the liquid additive from the compartment toward the axis of rotation of the agitator, and means operative in response to oscillation of said agitator to transmit liquid additive in said receptacle to said compartment for discharge from said receptacle by said discharging means.

4. A liquid additive dispenser for use in a clothes washing machine adapted to receive a Washing fluid and having an agitator oscillating to and fro about a vertical axis to agitate said fluid, said dispenser comprising a recptacle for receiving and containing a liquid additive, means for mounting said receptacle upon said agitator for oscillating movement therewith, means providing a compartment in said receptacle above the liquid additive therein, means for discharging the liquid additive from the compartment, and means operative in response to oscillation of said agitator to periodically move, by flowing, a portion of the liquid additive in said receptacle to said compartment for discharge from said receptacle by said discharging means.

5. A liquid additive dispenser for use in a clothes washing machine adapted to receive a washing fluid and having an agitator, and means for driving the agitator to provide oscillating forward and return strokes about a vertical axis for agitating said fluid, said dispenser comprising a receptacle for receiving and containing a liquid additive, means for mounting the receptacle upon said agitator for oscillating movement therewith, means providing a compaztment in said receptacle spaced from the liquid additive therein, means for discharging the liquid additive from the compartment, and means operative in response to one of said strokes of said agitator to move a portion of the liquid additive to said compartment for discharge from said dispenser by said discharging means.

6. A liquid additive dispenser for use in a clothes washing machine adapted to receive a washing fluid and having an agitator oscillating to and fro about a vertical axis to agitate said fluid, said dispenser comprising a receptacle for receiving and containing a liquid additive, means for mounting said receptacle upon said agitator for oscillating movement therewith, means providing a compartment in said receptacle above the liquid additive therein, means for discharging the liquid additive from the compartment, and means in said receptacle and extending into the liquid additive therein and upwardly to said compartment and operative in response to oscillation of said agitator to deliver liquid additive in said receptacle to said compartment for discharge from said receptacle by said discharging means.

7. A liquid additive dispenser for use in a clothes Washing machine adapted to receive a washing fluid and having an agitator oscillating to and fro about a vertical axis to agitate said fluid, said dispenser comprising an annular receptacle of U-shaped cross section for receiving and containing liquid additive, means for mounting the receptacle upon said agitator for oscillating movement therewith, said receptacle having a discharge opening at the top of one of the side walls thereof and above the liquid additive, and an elongate liquid transfer element in said receptacle and extending circumferentially thereof and inclined to dispose one end in the liquid additive in the receptacle and the other end adjacent said opening in said receptacle and operative in response to oscillation of said agitator to effect the flow of liquid additive in said receptacle to said opening therein to discharge the liquid additive from the dispenser.

8. A liquid additive dispenser for use in a clothes washing machine adapted to receive a washing fluid and having an agitator oscillating to and fro about a. vertical axis for agitating said fluid and comprising an annular receptacle for receiving and containing a liquid additive; means for mounting said receptacle upon said agitator for oscillating movement therewith; means providing a compartment in said receptacle above the liquid additive therein and having a discharge opening; and a ramp in said receptacle and having its lower end disposed in the liquid additive in said receptacle and its upper end terminating at said compartment and operative, in response to oscillation of said agitator, to move liquid additive, in said receptacle, into said compartment for discharge through said opening.

9. A liquid additive dispenser for use in a clothes washing machine adapted to receive a washing fluid and having an agitator oscillating to and fro about a vertical axis for agitating said fluid and comprising an annular receptacle of U-shaped cross section for receiving and containing a liquid additive and having a discharge opening in a side wall thereof and above the liquid additive in the receptacle; means for mounting said receptacle upon said agitator for oscillating movement therewith; means defining, with the side walls of said receptacle, a compartment in said receptacle above the liquid additive there in and aligned with said discharge opening; and ramps in said receptacle and projecting downwardly from the top of said compartment into the liquid additive in said receptacle and operative, in response to oscillation of said agitator, to move liquid additive, in said receptacle, into said compartment for discharge through said opening.

10. A liquid additive dispenser for use in a clothes washing machine adapted to receive a washing fluid and having an agitator oscillating to and fro about a vertical axis for agitating said fluid and comprising an annular receptacle of U-shaped cross section for receiving and containing a liquid additive and having a discharge opening in a side wall thereof and above the liquid additive in said receptacle; means for mounting said receptacle upon said agitator for oscillating movement therewith; means, defining with the side walls of said receptacle, a compartment in said receptacle above the liquid additive therein and with said opening being disposed at the bottom of the compartment; and a pair of ramps in said receptacle spaced circumferentially of said receptacle and having their upper ends terminating above said compartment and their lower ends disposed in the liquid additive in the receptacle, and operative, in response to oscillation of said agitator, to periodically move substantially equal quantities of the liquid additive, in said receptacle, into said compartment for discharge through said opening.

11. A liquid additive dispenser for use in a clothes washing machine adapted to receive a washing fluid and having an agitator oscillating to and fro about a vertical axis to agitate said fluid and comprising an annular receptacle for receiving and containing a liquid additive; means for mounting said receptacle upon said agitator for oscillating movement therewith; means providing a compartment in said receptacle above the liquid additive therein and having a discharge opening; and a ramp in said receptacle encased and havingits lower end disposed in the liquid additive in saidreceptacle andits upper end terminating at said compartment, said ramp having a plurality of stepped recesses therein and-said ramp being operative, in response to oscillation of said agitator, to move portions of the liquid additive, in saidrecept-ac'le', upwardly and successively into said recesses and into said compartment for discharge through said opening.

12. A liquid additive dispenser for use in a clothes washing' machine adapted. to receive a washing fluid and having anagitator oscillating to and fro, about a vertical axis for agitating said fluid and comprising an. annular receptacle for receiving and containing a liquid additive; meansfor mounting said receptacle upon said'agitator for oscillatingmovement therewith; means providing acompartment inisaid receptacle above the. liquid additive therein, and having a discharge opening; and a tube in said receptacle and;inclined. upwardly from its lower end in the liquid additive in: the; receptacle and, to. dispose its upper end terminating: in said compartment and, operative, in response tooscillation of said agitator, to move liquid additive, in. said receptacle, into said compartment for discharge through said opening.

- dined-upwardly from its lower end disposed in the liquid additive; in the receptacle and to dispose its upper end in said compartment and operative, in response to oscillation. of said agitator, to periodically move substantially equal quantities of the liquid additive, in said receptacle, into. said compartment for discharge through said openmg.

14. A liquid, additive dispenser for use in a clothes wash ing machineadapted to receive a Washing fluid and having an agitator, and means for driving said agitator in oscillatingtforward and return strokes about a vertical axis. toagitate said fluid, said dispenser comprising an annular receptacle for receiving and containing a liquid addirive; means for mounting said receptacle upon said agitator: for oscillating movement therewith; means providing acompartment in said receptacle above the. liquid additive thereinand having a discharge opening; and atube in said receptacleand inclined upwardly from. its lower. end disposed in theliquid additive in the receptacle and, todispose its upper end at said compartment and operative, in response to, oscillation of said agitator, to move 15., A liquid additive dispenser for use in a clothes wash: machine having an agitator, and means for driving said agitator in oscillating forward and return strokes of. said agitator about a vertical axis, said dispenser comprising, means for receiving and containing a liquid addi; tiye; means for mounting said receptacle upon said agitacharging the liquid additive from said containing means and disposed above the liquidadditive; and "a tube in said receptacle and inclined upwardly fromits lower end in" the liquid additive in the containing means and operative, in response to oscillation of said agitator, to moveliquid additive, in said containing means through the upper end of said tube for flow of the liquid additive axis .foragitating said fluid. and comprising means for retorfoboscilla'ting movement therewith; means for disceiving and containing a liquid additive; means for mounting said receptacle upon said agitator for oscillating movement therewith; meansv for discharging the liquid: additive from. said containing means and disposed above the liquid additive; and a tube in said containing means and inclined upwardly from its lower end in the liquid: additive in said containing meansand operative, in response to oscillation of said agitator, to move liquid in said containing means through the. upper end of said tube for flowof the liquid additive throughsaid dischargingmeansr 17. A liquid; additive dispenser for use a clothes Washing machine ada ted to receive a washing fluid and hav ng an agitator oscillating to and fro about a vertical axis; to agitate said fluidand comprising an annular receptaclefor receiving and-containing a liquid additive and receptacle through said tube for discharge from the upper nd of the tube.

18. A liquid additive dispenser for use in a clothes washing machine adapated to receive a Washing fluid and having'an agitator oscillating to and fro about a vertical axis to agitate; saidv fluid and comprising an annular receptacle for receiving and, containing a liquid additive; means for mounting said receptacle upon said agitator for oscillating movement therewith; means for discharging the liquid additive from said receptacle and disposed above, the liquid additive therein; and means operative, in response to oscillation of said agitator, to provide upward flowing movement of the liquid additive in said receptacle in an angularly inclined path extending circumferentially of said receptacle and from the bottom of said.

receptacle to said discharging means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,826,030 'Snyder Oct. 6, 1931 2,498,894 McCormick Feb. 28, 1950 2,821,848 Becker Feb. 4, 1958 2,933,912 Billings Apr. 26, 1960 2,953,006 Brucken Sept. 20, 1960 V FOREIGN PATENTS 1,187,692 France Mar. 9, 1959 

